Monthly Archives: August 2015

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A Weekend Guide to Stockholm

One of the best things about living in London is the proximity to most of Europe. In just over two hours you can be almost anywhere on the continent, so those of you living or working in the UK can take some fantastic weekend breaks. it was with this in mind we spent a weekend in Sweden’s capital of cool, Stockholm. Below is our guide to a weekend in the capital to maximise your time and see most of the main sites.

Saturday Day 1:

Kick off your day with a grab and go breakfast from one of the bakeries or supermarkets in the main train station. You will quickly find Scandinavian countries are expensive so a cheap breakfast will keep you on budget as well as save you time.

While eating breakfast head down to the Stockholm Town Hall. First guided tours in English are at 10:00am. The town hall is home to the Nobel Prize Banquets, is beautifully decorated inside and gives you a great introduction to the city. In the middle of summer you can also climb the town hall tower for some excellent views over the city.

The Stockholm Town Hall gives a great historical introduction to the city

The very impressive "Gold Room" of the Town Hall

The very impressive “Gold Room” of the Town Hall

From the town hall it is only a short walk over to the Old Town of Stockholm on the island of Gamla Stan. The Royal Palace is situated here and has a rather unique changing of the guards ceremony (12:15 daily, 13:15 Sunday’s and holidays). Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Gamla Stan, there are a number of museums including the Nobel Prize Museum, peruse the numerous souvenir stores selling everything from Viking paraphernalia, anything yellow and blue to wooden Dala horses a traditional Swedish gift. Alternatively you can take in some retail therapy (remember H&M is Swedish)  along the pedestrianised shopping street of Drottninggatan.

The changing of the guards ceremony drags on a little but the colourful uniforms make for some great photos

The changing of the guards ceremony drags on a little but the colourful uniforms make for some great photos

This evening head over to the Skeppsholmen (an island opposite Gamla Stan) to watch the sunset over the city. Tonight you can dine in one of the many restaurants in Gamla Stan or head over to Södermalm home to loads of cool restaurants, bars and pubs. While you find them all over the world nowadays the original Ice Bar is in Stockholm, it is best to book ahead.

Sunday Day 2:

After an easy start to the day it is time to hit a couple of museums. First visit the Vasa Museum, showcasing the recovered and restored Vasa an enormous warship from the 1600’s that lay under water for over 300 years (it only sailed for less than 20 minutes!). Amazingly this museum is dedicated to one of the country’s biggest screw ups but is incredibly impressive. Make sure you watch the short documentary, the recovery of the boat is almost as fascinating as the boat itself.

The Vasa is dedicated to Sweden's greatest military and naval disaster but the restoration is amazing

The Vasa is dedicated to Sweden’s greatest military and naval disaster but the restoration is amazing

From the Vasa a short walk will take you to one of the newest museums. Time to break out the sequins and flares as you step into the Abba Museum. With interactive displays, a piano linked up to Benny’s piano back home, so when he plays it plays and a flashing dance floor continuously pumping out Dancing Queen you don’t have to be a diehard fan to enjoy it!

Deep down everyone has a favourite Abba song!

Deep down everyone has a favourite Abba song!

Can you name the Swedish Fab Four?

Can you name the Swedish Fab Four?

The rest of Sunday you can do as you please, perhaps take a cruise around the islands, or just chill out in one of the many parks with the locals before you have to head back to the airport and home.

While a weekend is definitely not long enough to explore all Stockholm has to offer, for those of you short on time this plan of attack will help you cover most of the main attractions of the city.

– Dean

Chilling out at the Chocolate Cafe in Gamla Stan.

Chilling out at the Chocolate Cafe in Gamla Stan.

Practical Information: 
There are regular flights from London to Stockholm, check out http://www.ba.com or http://www.easyjet.com.
There is a regular train service from the airport to town centre and reverse and costs approximately, wait for it, £50, welcome to Scandinavia everyone!
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Ampelmann: East Berlin’s Cold War Hero

From the devastation of WWII to the post war division, wherever you stand in Berlin you are always reminded of the city’s tragic twentieth century history. During the peak of the Cold War there were an estimated 16 spy agencies working in the city and while James Bond and Jason Bourne have moved on ( as far as we know) one Cold War hero has lasted the test of time. That man is the East Berlin Ampelmann.

Ampelmann, like any good spy can be easily overlooked or passed by, and after the German reunification he began to meld back into the shadows. However the citizens needed a hero, they needed a man to rally around to preserve their culture and Ampelmann was that man.

So who is Ampelmann? Put simply he is the road crossing man.

Bernauer Strasse was one of the most important sites of the Berlin Wall, and Ampelmann still stands guard today

Bernauer Strasse was one of the most important sites of the Berlin Wall, and Ampelmann still stands guard today

It was easy to tell what part of Berlin you where in based purely upon the road crossing signals. In West Berlin you had the boring capitalist slightly depressing looking stick figure we know around the world. Not in East Berlin! East Berlin (and East Germany as a whole) had Ampelmann, a slightly paunchy communist crossing man that oozed charisma. When stopped he stood defiantly, arms out stressed ( as opposed to the almost anaemic looking western version). When green he strode confidently, head held high, back arched as he marched off to work like all happy communists were expected to do!

Ampelmann & Ampelfrau (found in Dresden), so much more appealing than the boring Western crossing signal

Ampelmann & Ampelfrau (found in Dresden), so much more appealing than the boring Western crossing signal

After the fall of the wall his life was threatened, like many a good spy he was being hunted and was slowly being replaced by the western crossing man, the Cold War was over, and it appeared his time was quickly running out too.

However the people of East Berlin rallied around Ampelmann and he is now one of the symbols of the city. In the 1990’s a committee for the preservation of ampelmann was set up. The media jumped on board, the campaign grew and eventually politicians had to take note, the people had spoken! Nowadays whole souvenir stores dedicated to him can be found throughout Berlin selling everything from Ampelmann ice cube trays and cookie cutters to wine stops, bags, hats even Ampelmann Gummi Bears!

One of the many Ampelmann stores throughout Berlin. Do you really need those ice cube trays, well yes!

One of the many Ampelmann stores throughout Berlin. Do you really need those ice cube trays, well yes!

In fact he has become so popular that when new crossing signals are now installed across Berlin regardless of East or West it is Ampelmann who stands stops you victoriously across the city.

The face of Berlin has changed dramatically since the reunification in 1991.  History will say the West won the Cold War, but in Berlin one Cold War icon has endured. In Berlin the East had at least one victory and it takes the form of the Ampelmann…

Striding confidently off into the future...

Striding confidently off into the future…

– Dean

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Our Pre Oktoberfest Checklist

It is that time of the year again, time to join thousands of travellers from around the world as you descend upon Southern Germany. So you are planning to hit the world’s largest beer festival? The Oktoberfest is almost a rite of passage for many backpackers travelling around Europe. However for many it can also be their downfall. By following our Pre-Oktoberfest checklist you can avoid some of the pitfalls of Munich’s craziest two weeks and ensure you have an awesome time!

The Hofbrau tent main entrance

The Hofbrau tent main entrance

1. Book Your Accommodation Early!

To be totally honest, if you are reading this and still haven’t got a place to stay you are pretty much too late! Accommodation is at a premium during the ‘Fest’ and even dorm rooms are ridiculously expensive. Camping is an option and Camping Thalkirchen is probably your best bet, but be prepared for masses of organised groups packing out the campsite. If you do camp make sure you are first ones into the shower block after they have been cleaned, you have been warned!

With some tents holding over 5000 people you better book accommodation early

With some tents holding over 5000 people you better book accommodation early

Remember, if all else fails do as the locals do and pass out under a tree in the grounds, dozens of locals can’t be wrong can they, oh and don’t forget to pack the beer blanket.

2. Start Drinking Now!

The Bräuhaus’ of Munich brew extra strong beer for Oktoberfest , somewhere between the five and eight percent alcohol mark! Combine that with the fact a stein is one litre, many an unsuspecting traveller have found their day or night coming to an early end because of a lack of ‘beer stamina’. On the bright side Munich brewers abide by the 1516 Beer Purity Laws meaning there are no additives or preservatives added to their beers. According to the Bräu Meisters it is the additives and preservatives that give you a hangover! So technically regardless of your beer drinking capacity you should be able to knock back steins all night and wake up fine in the morning!

Start building your drinking fitness before Oktoberfest!

Start building your drinking fitness before Oktoberfest!

Now The Smart Way Round have laid their bodies on the line all in the name of research and we can attest that after downing 10 steins in a night the next morning you don’t feel hungover! Well, you still don’t feel great but your body is expecting to feel worse than you actually do so perhaps the Bräu Meisters are correct. More research must be done on this one we think, but in the mean time start improving you drinking skills.

For some the experience can be all too much

For some the experience can be all too much

3. Bring Loads of Money.

For the first time ever a stein of beer is hitting and in some tents breaking the 10 euro barrier. So a decent session in one of the Oktoberfest beer tents is going to set you back a small fortune (or the price of a dorm bed for a night).

With steins costing around 10 Euro this year it could be an expensive shout

With steins costing around 10 Euro this year it could be an expensive shout

At some stage you are going to have to eat. Once the beer goggles are put on every girl in a dirndl selling giant pretzels is going to look like the most beautiful girl you have ever laid eyes on. The likelihood of numerous pretzel purchases is virtually guaranteed.

Beware the charms of the pretzel girls!

Beware the charms of the pretzel girls!

There is also a good chance you are going to walk out of there with an overpriced souviner but by the end of the night you REALLY are going to need that felt hat with a stuffed Bavarian Lion attached to it.

So our suggestion is call home for emergency funds, raise the credit card limit and just accept you literally are going to flush your cash down the loo at Oktoberfest!

Did I really buy that last night?!

Did I really buy that last night?!

4. Buy Lederhosen or a Dirndl.

Hey you are in Bavaria! All the locals will be sporting their traditional costumes so why not you?

I promise you from experience there is nothing more fun than drinking beer wearing leather shorts that are way too tight but strangely comfortable.

Everyone at Oktoberfest will be wearing it

Everyone at Oktoberfest will be wearing it

However be warned, when that emergency bathroom dash happens or when you get caught at the back of the inevitable enormous line to the gents, for the first time wearer lederhosen can be a nightmare to get undone!

Our tip, practice that emergency dash in your hotel or hostel so when the time comes you are a lederhosen undoing pro!

5. Make a copy of your Passport.

Over 1000 passports get lost annually at the Oktoberfest with the majority of them being Australian! In fact things are so bad the Australian Embassy opens a temporary passport replacement service in the British Consulate in Munich.

Of course it will never happen to all of us will it, but just in case have a few photocopies of your passport and a couple of spare passport photos ready, oh and don’t keep them with your passport!

Finally have a great time, you are partaking in a tradition dating back over 200 years, eat, drink (too much) and try and remember for many this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Do you have any hints and tips for the Oktoberfest First Timer? Let’s us know and leave a comment below

Prost!

Most of all enjoy!

Most of all enjoy!

– Dean